Stephanus Blancardus [Steven Blanckaert; Steven Blankaart] - Anatomia Reformata Sive Concinna Corporis Humani Dissectio, Ad Neotericorum mentem adornata. [.] - 1695

Large octavo: [12]+759+[14] pp., 83 plates. These are plates I-LXVII, A-H and AA-II. No copy contains any plates corresponding to captions for four plates in the "Appendix" and "Extractum"

The often-missing engraved title page/frontispiece is present

In the original full vellum binding, with elegant spine. Some toning throughout (paper and ink quality) and some minor wear but in general a very pleasing copy in a lovely binding.

The 1695 edition of Anatomia Reformata Sive Concinna Corporis Humani Dissectio represents one of the most influential medical publications of the Dutch Golden Age, authored by the eminent physician and anatomist Steven Blankaart.

Blankaart, known for his accessible medical compendia and commitment to practical instruction, sought to present human anatomy in a form aligned with contemporary “neoterics,” or modernizers, distancing himself from more scholastic traditions.

The anatomical portion of the volume is notable for its systematic organization, concise prose, and the integration of anatomical illustration as a pedagogical tool. In contrast to earlier Renaissance treatises—many of which drew heavily on classical authorities—the text builds upon the advances of figures such as William Harvey and the broader network of iatrochemical and experimental physicians shaping European medical practice. Blankaart’s aim is not merely descriptive; he emphasizes clarity and clinical utility, reflecting the needs of physicians, surgeons, and students who increasingly relied on dissection-based knowledge rather than inherited doctrine.

Equally significant is the appended treatise, De Balsamatione Nova Methodus, in which Blankaart outlines his innovative procedure for embalming. Here he diverges sharply from traditional funerary and preservative methods, offering what he claims to be a wholly unprecedented technique. The work’s discussion intersects with the experimental culture fostered by scientific societies, notably the milieu inspired by Royal Society, which encouraged practical experimentation and the dissemination of new mechanical and chemical methods. Blankaart’s contribution reflects this spirit of innovation, applying chemical reasoning to a domain long governed by artisanal secrecy.

The is an expanded edition first issued in 1687. A complete copy, age-toned throughout.